Catherine Wheel
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Catherine Wheel were a four-piece alternative rock band from Great Yarmouth, England. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success, and embarking on many lengthy tours.
Catherine Wheel formed in 1990, comprising singer/guitarist Rob Dickinson, guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a Joy Division-influenced band called Eternal. They took their moniker from the firework known as the Catherine wheel, which in turn had taken its name from the medieval torture device of the same name. The band was often included in the shoegazing scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar feedback and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive amounts of effects pedals on the stage floor.
The band performed a Peel session in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12” vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich based Wilde Club Records, named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at Norwich Arts Centre. They signed to major-label Fontana Records after being courted by both Creation Records and the Brian Eno-run label Opal Records. The band’s debut album, 1991/92’s Ferment, made an immediate impression on the music press and introduced Catherine Wheel’s biggest U.S. hit, “Black Metallic,” as well as moderate hit “I Want To Touch You”. The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs.
Catherine Wheel formed in 1990, comprising singer/guitarist Rob Dickinson, guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a Joy Division-influenced band called Eternal. They took their moniker from the firework known as the Catherine wheel, which in turn had taken its name from the medieval torture device of the same name. The band was often included in the shoegazing scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar feedback and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive amounts of effects pedals on the stage floor.
The band performed a Peel session in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12” vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich based Wilde Club Records, named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at Norwich Arts Centre. They signed to major-label Fontana Records after being courted by both Creation Records and the Brian Eno-run label Opal Records. The band’s debut album, 1991/92’s Ferment, made an immediate impression on the music press and introduced Catherine Wheel’s biggest U.S. hit, “
Black Metallic,” as well as moderate hit “I Want To Touch You”. The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs.
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Ferment
Catherine Wheel
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Chrome
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Happy Days
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Like Cats And Dogs
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Shoutbox
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brownieboy wrote:
awesome band from my local town.
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right33 wrote:
can you explain similar please?
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Phlunked wrote:
Very similar to Screaming Trees. No kidding.
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greenstyle wrote:
ba ba ba balloon
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MadBadJack wrote:
mm
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celicson wrote:
guess what. my name is catherine. and i also dig this band. o_O
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NatalieAddams1 wrote:
<3
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right33 wrote:
t0tes top fave band
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Kirpus69 wrote:
What better music on a Saturday morning?
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earthcrossing wrote:
Listening to "Intravenous" right now...rockin' tune! And MAN these guys should have more listeners...!
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skmelanie wrote:
I got "Happy Days" for 25 cents at Hastings. Digging through the obscure used CDs was definitely worth the greatest bargain I've ever found. I had only heard Ferment and Chrome at the time, but Happy Days definitely has some shining moments.
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earthcrossing wrote:
i'd give my right hand to see these guys perform ferment and chrome live.. [2] not sure about actually giving a limb, but I'd certainly seriously consider it!!
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RumbleFishing wrote:
Great sound, heavily distorted and-all, saw them live at Botanique Brussels, when they were "quite fresh" coming out with the Ferment album ... opening for The House Of Love, who were only half as good as Catherine. I never heard of them before but the impact was instant ... huge sound ... I left halfway through a disappointing House Of Love set, but I had come to know one great band. Liked follow-up Chrome too, but Happy Days onwards, it was different ... and I left it.
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splitin2 wrote:
i'd give my right hand to see these guys perform ferment and chrome live..
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Mike_Collie wrote:
Awesome band.
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irishlad1 wrote:
Its at least 6 years since I last listened to these guys and just found them on Spotify and forgot how good they were "Adam and Eve" what a great album.
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earthcrossing wrote:
These guys just joined my 1000+ scrobbles club. Yay, welcome boys!! :D
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gearfoxalpha wrote:
Whoa, definitely one of the underrated members of the shoegaze scene. I'll make sure to check out more of their work, but in the meantime, I think Ferment is in need of a few more spins...
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Nintendevil wrote:
I find it interesting that I generally dislike this kind of music, but I am more of a fan of their later albums than their first two. (although I still haven't heard too much. I love Happy Days!!!!)
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micahnewman wrote:
Tremendous early-90s band that will always have a place in my library. Too bad most everything after "Chrome" sucks...
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BATHE AWAY
30 Mar 2011 | from www.myspace.com/robdickinson
Jan 19
Rob
Dickinson (The Catherine Wheel)
featured a new track:
BATHE AWAY
by
Rob
Dickinson (The Catherine Wheel)
on
FRESH WINE FOR THE HORSES + NUDE
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29 Mar 2011 | from www.myspace.com/robdickinson -
29 Mar 2011 | from www.myspace.com/robdickinson -
29 Mar 2011 | from www.myspace.com/robdickinson
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Recent Activity
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atpunk, surfingdinosaur, ovanov and 4 other people added Catherine Wheel to their libraries. 9 hours ago
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eucaine wrote about Catherine Wheel in Favorite Albums of 1992. Monday morning
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eucaine wrote about Catherine Wheel in Favorite Albums of 1993. Monday morning
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TessMaughan, MightyFallenOak, Pinwheel217 and 13 other people added Catherine Wheel to their libraries. Sunday morning
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Alfredo_Poo tagged Catherine Wheel with shoegazer, indie rock, alternative rock and 2 other tags. last week
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johnnykevlar, shauno5166, chelfi and 1 other person added Catherine Wheel to their libraries. last month
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La_Folle_ tagged Catherine Wheel with ‘shoegaze’. last month
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Deb7663 and BILLTHEBEARD added Catherine Wheel to their libraries. last month
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TerryTorino tagged Catherine Wheel with indie and shoegaze. last month
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TerryTorino, shanemanut, niklas_galis and 5 other people added Catherine Wheel to their libraries. last month
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